قَالَ ابنُ المُبَارَكِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ: حَقٌّ عَلَى العَاقِلِ أَنْ لَا يَسْتَخِفَّ بِثَلَاثَةٍ: العُلَمَاءُ وَالسَّلَاطِينِ وَالإخْوَانِ؛ فَإنَّهُ مَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بِالعُلَمَاءِ ذَهَبَتْ آخِرَتُهُ، وَمَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بالسُّلْطَانِ ذَهَبَتْ دُنْيَاهُ، وَمَنِ اسْتَخَفَّ بِالإِخْوَانِ ذَهَبَتْ مُرُوءَتُهُ

‘Abdullāh bin Mubārak (may Allāh have mercy upon him) said:

“It is right that an intelligent person does not undervalue three (types of people): The scholars, the rulers, and (his Muslim) brothers. Whoever undervalues the scholars will lose his afterlife, whoever undervalues the rulers will lose his worldly life, and whoever undervalues his brothers loses his good character and conduct.”

• Siyar A’lām an-Nubalā’ (13/251)